This was the 6th Annual St. Puppy’s Day, and my first. Hosted by Pinnacle Pet, it’s one of several events held around the country each year offering educational forums for breeders on animal healthcare, breeding best practices and kennel design and maintenance.

Animal Planet’s popular Puppy Bowl, now in its 11th year, will run opposite the big game; 13.5 million of us tuned in last year to watch hours of puppies playing... All hype aside, TV commercials shown during the big game are a powerful reminder of the many choices we have as American consumers and, this year at least, what our canine companions mean to us.

Since stepping into my new role earlier this month, I have been traveling around the country meeting with PIJAC members and others in the pet business community, including visits to pet shops and commercial breeders. I am listening carefully to your input, deepening my understanding of the critical issues facing us and building new relationships.

As of today, bans of pet store sales of dogs and cats that come from commercial breeders have been enacted or are pending in 77 municipalities and states around the country. As well intended as most of their advocates are, pet store sales bans are not the answer.

Have you read the following op-ed supporting our position in Connecticut? The article was recently published by the Hartford Courant and comes at an important time for responsible pet stores and supporters of pet-choice in the Constitution State.